Booktree.ng_Forgotten-Witness

“This is one of our aides. Amelia Francis.” Mr. Reynolds
said.
“You’re a nurse?” Josie asked.
“Amelia is one of our lawehana,” Mr. Reynolds said. “In
Hawaiian that means a woman who helps.”
“It means a servant,” Stephen grumbled.
“Not here,” Reynolds corrected him. “Here it means a
woman who helps. Without her, Emily would not be as healthy
as she is now. Emily didn’t like the woman from the agency,
Amelia. She missed you.”
Emily swiveled in her chair and both hands clutched at the
arm. She looked at the people around her, her expression
concerned, her movement agitated.
“I would like to see Ian. I think I haven’t seen him. Have I
seen him? Have I? Because I’m afraid…” Her head went left;
it went right. “I’m afraid…”
Josie started to move toward her mother but Amelia put
herself between the two women.
“Don’t. She doesn’t like to be touched, especially by
strangers.”
Again there was a flash of something in those exhausted
eyes, but Amelia looked away before Josie could figure out
what it might be. It was the girl’s touch and whispers that
settled Emily.
Emily whispered back but loud enough for everyone to hear.
“I don’t want people looking at me.”
Amelia whispered again as she smoothed Emily’s hair.
When she righted herself, she pivoted, retrieved her dustpan
and walked away, speaking to no one in particular.
“I need to get the trays ready.”
Before Amelia could make her escape, Reynolds raised his
arm and blocked her. “Where is your father, Amelia? I’ll bring
him up for her.”